Grey nomads are being urged to join the fight to stop the spread of fire ants, an invasive pest posing a serious threat to Australia’s environment and outdoor way of life.
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) says fire ants are currently mostly confined to Queensland, although there have been recent detections in New South Wales.
It says, without intervention, fire ants could have spread north to Townsville, west past Longreach, and south to Albury.
Ashley Bacon, Program Executive Director for the NFAEP, believes grey nomads can play an important role in restricting the spread of fire ants.
Fire ants are notorious for their painful sting. PIC: National Fire Ant Eradication Program
“By being vigilant and taking simple precautions, they can help protect our beautiful landscapes and prevent these pests from causing more harm,” she said. “We encourage grey nomads to clean out camping gear and check for any ants before moving on to their next destination … it’s a small effort for peace of mind and the wellbeing of our environment and outdoor way of life.”
Fire ants, originally from South America, were first found in Queensland in 2001 and Australia’s climate, and lack of natural predators, make it an ideal home for these pests.
Fire ants are pretty small, but very nasty! PIC: National Fire Ant Eradication Program
The ants are notorious for their painful stings, which can cause severe allergic reactions. They damage crops and machinery, leading to significant economic losses, and disrupt local ecosystems by preying on native insects and small animals, causing declines in various wildlife species.
Severe infestations can close beaches, parks, playgrounds, tourist hotspots, and other recreational areas. Grey nomads are urged to make sure they don’t spread fire ants by transporting soil, plants, or camping gear with ‘unwanted hitchhikers’.
Fire ants are copper brown in colour with a darker abdomen, measuring 2–6 mm. They’re aggressive and swarm when disturbed. Nests resemble mounds or flat patches of loose soil with no obvious entry or exit holes, and can be found under objects like timber and rocks.
NFAEP says, when checking a nest, people should wear protective clothing and poke the nest with a long stick, then watch from a distance to observe the ants’ colour, size, and swarming behaviour.
If identified, fire ants should be reported immediately: Visit fireants.org.au for more information.
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